'Offended' Kamala Harris fears Biden could be replaced by anti-woke white candidate

Biden is facing calls to step down after his disastrous head-to-head debate against Republican rival Donald Trump.

Harris, who would succeed Biden if he stepped down after returning to the White House after November 5, dismissed growing pressure for the 46th President to stand aside for a younger candidate.

However, Harris' allies were left frustrated after two leading Democrats were named as Biden’s potential successor.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer have been shortlisted as potential replacements.

An ally of Harris told Politico: “The fact that people keep coming back to this is so offensive to so many of us.

“They still don’t get that the message you’re saying to people, to this Democratic Party, is, we prefer a white person.”

Another source added: “If they think they are going to get through South Carolina bashing an effective and qualified Black woman vice president — their instincts are as bad as I thought they were.”

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Harris' allies have claimed her race might help Democrats claw back support amongst African-American voters after the Grand Old Party appeared to sweep up support in a significant swing.

Pew Research revealed just 77 per cent of black voters want to back Biden in November, down from 93 per cent in 2020.

The swing could help Trump in a number of key swing states, including Georgia.

A snap poll conducted after Biden and Trump’s debate in Atlanta revealed Americans decisively believed the 45th President won the contest by 66 per cent to 33 per cent.

No leading Democrats publicly urged Biden to resign the nomination, with ex-President Barack Obama throwing his support behind his former Vice President.

However, Biden’s family and closest allies have instead been urged to help convince Biden to “walk off” on his own terms.

A Democrat source told Axios: “This is not about him submitting to the will of others yelling at him that he failed.

“Joe Biden is too proud for that argument. He will not be dragged off the stage.

“The goal is to let him walk off the stage… He got rid of Trump; helped prepare America through his legislation for the future; and, under his tenure, a generation of new Democrats have emerged.”

Newsom and Whitmer, both earmarked as potential successors, have expressed public support for the Biden-Harris ticket and rejected claims they could look to step in.

Whitmer assured Biden officials on Friday that she was not behind media reports touting her as a possible replacement.

Newsom added: “I think it’s unhelpful, and I think it’s unnecessary.

“With all due respect, the more times we start having these conversations, going down these rabbit holes, it’s unhelpful to our democracy, the fate and future of this country, the world.

“They need us right now to step up and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”

Biden, who positioned himself as the only Democrat capable of defeating Trump in 2020, sent an email to supporters over the weekend reiterating the message.

Polling suggests Biden trails Trump in a head-to-head contest by three per cent.

Newsom trailed Trump by the same margin, with Whitmer’s deficit standing at just two points.

Separate surveys put the 45th President well ahead of Harris.

Biden would become the first President since Lyndon B Johnson not to seek a second term in the Oval Office if he opted to step aside.

Speaking at a rally in North Carolina following his debate with Trump, Biden appeared to concede last week’s debate was not his finest performance but stressed he intends to return to the White House after November 5.

He said: “I intend to win this election. When you get knocked down, you get back up.”